Sheet-metal-seaming machine



(No Model.)

G. EDIT. I SHEET METAL SEAMING MACHINE.

' No. 470,755. Patented Mar. 15, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HOFF, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SH EET-M ETAL-SEAM I NG MACH IN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 470,755, dated March 15, 1892.

Application filed April 3, 1891. $erial No. 387,489- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Home a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal-Seaming Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My presentinvention consists in certain improvements in and attachments to be connected to a machine forforming the seams on sheet metal preparatory to rolling said metal in a compact form for shipment.

The construction of machine to which my improvements are applicable is one having a horizontal feedingtable, a stationary and movable clamp-jaw, between which jaws the metal is fed to be seamed, and a rear drum on which the metal is rolled after being seamed, substantially as shown in Letters Patent No. 314,448, granted to me March 24, 1885.

WVhile it is preferred to employ my improvements hereinafter set forth in connection with a machine constructed substantially as shown and described in said patent, said improvements may, so far as applicable, be used in connection with a seaming-machine otherwise differently constructed and differently operated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1 through the feeding-table, stationary jaw, and drum, said section being taken on a line Vertical with the end of the movable jaw, the lower portion of the machine being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the position of the gageroller in the groove which extends across the table in front of the clamp-jaws. Fig. 4 is a section through the cross groove andslot in the feeding-table.

The machine to which my invention relates is preferably constructed as follows: The feeding-table A is mounted on a suitable frame support B, said table having a cross-slot of sufficient width to permit of the lower movable jaw O entering through said slot to clamp the hooked seam on the sheet metal against the upper stationary jaw O. Beneath the tableA is suspended the cross-bar D by means of rods cl cl. Between and pivotally connected to the cross-bar D and movable clamp-jaw O is the compound triple toggle connection consisting of the pivoted levers a and a, the latter at their pivotal connection being connected to the vertical bar or rod E, to the lower end of which is centrally pivoted the foot-lever E, one end of said lever being pivotally connected to a suitable bracketc on the frame of the machine. The foot-lever is retained in an elevated position (when not operated upon) by means of a suitable elastic connection 6 connected to the cross-bar D. The drum F is removably connected to suitable bracket journal-bearings f at the rear of the machine, said drum being provided with a suitable crankf for windingthe seamed metal thereon.

The aforedescribed construction of seaming-machine is practically the sameas that shown and claimed in my aforesaid former I patent, and it is not my purpose to claim herein any of said features, excepting in so far as may be necessary to the practical operation of my improvements thereto.

My invention 'consists'in providing a suitable gage and guide to be attached to the feeding-table to properly and evenly guide the sheets of metal between the clamp-jaws to be seamed, and afterward to guide said seamed sheets in such a manner as that they will be evenly reeled onto the drum. To accomplish this object, I have provided the longitudinal vertical guide-piece H, which is connected to the table A near one side thereof, against which one side of the sheets to be scanned slides, said sheets being held in position thereto by a gage J, the latter being elastically connected to the table A. It is preferred to employ two of these gage-rollers J, one in front of the clamp-jaws and one at the rear thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

The guide-piece H is preferably provided with a central integral loop h, which encircles the top of the stationary jaw O, as shown, thus forming one continuous guide piece at the front and rear of the clamp-jaws. One or more longitudinal grooves Z) are formed in the table A, in one of which the lower flanged portion 7&2 of the guide rests, as shown in Fig. 1, and

is secured therein by suitable screws lbs. The objectin having more than one grooveb is to accommodate varying widths of metal.

The feeding-table is provided with one or more cross-grooves M, having a central slotted opening at therein, (see Fig. 4,) said groove and slot extending across said table for its greater but not its entire width. The top end portion of the bracket N is screw-threaded and projects through the slot m in the table, a suitable nut N being screwed onto the top of said bracket. lVhen screwed down to place, as shown in Fig. 2, this nut, in connection with the flange n on the bracket, serves to rigidly connect the latter to the table and prevent any lateral movement thereon. Near the center of this vertical bracket is cast the lateral projecting lugs n between which is pivoted centrally the lever N to the top portion of which is rotatably connected the gage-roller J.

Between the lower end portions of the bracket N and the lever N is secured an elastic connection a preferably a coiled spring, as shown. The top portion of the levcr N projects through the slot at of the table at an oblique angle to its face, which causes the gage-roller J to rest in the groove M at an oblique angle, the lower peripheral edge of said roller resting in said groove below a plane with the top surface of the table, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. ihe object of this arrangement of the gage-roller is to provide against any liability of the metal sheets sliding beneath said roller, in which This event the latter would be of no service. gage-roller J can be readily and quickly adj usted with reference to the guide H by simply loosening the nut N, at which time the bracket N, lever N and gage J are free to slide in the slot m to any desired position, and there secured by simply tightening the nut.

The sheets of metal to be seamed are hooked together in the usual manner and fed rearward until the hooked portion of the flange strikes the gravity-pin S in the stationary jaw C, at which time the movable jaw is brought up against the seam by means of the foot-lever E andfleonnecting mechanism, as in my original machine, thus tightly and securely locking the hooked seam. The sheets thus seamed are hooked to the removable drum F, as described in my former patent, on which the roll of metal is reeled and fed rearward. In the construction shown in my former patent diliieulty was experienced in feeding the hooked sheets between the clamp-jaws so that said hooked seam would come parallel with said jaws, also in reeling said sheets on the drum evenly, which difficulty I now obviate by means of the guide H and gage J. The sheets are fed rearward between said guide and gage, the latter being so adjusted with reference to the width of the metal as that said gageJ will impinge against one side of the sheet by reason of the elastic connection a forcing the sheet to slide rearward against and on a line with the guide II, thus bringing the hooked seam up parallel with the clamp-jaws, and also causing said sheets to be evenly reeled on the drum.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a seaming-machine constructed substantially as set forth, the longitudinal groove 1) near one side of the feed-table, vertical guide II, having a bottom flange 71, said flange resting in said groove, and suitable means for connecting it thereto, in combination with the yielding rotatable gage J, adj ustably connected at the opposite side of said table, substantially as set forth.

2. In a seaming-machine constructed substantially as set forth, the feed-table A, havin g a cross-groove M in its top face, said groove havinga central elongated opening at therein, bracket N, having a screw-threaded top portion and flange n, lugs 92 connected to said bracket, between which lugs is pivoted the lever N gage-roller J, connected to the top of said lever, and an elastic connection a between the lower free ends of bracket N and lever N the top of said bucket projecting through said opening on and provided with a nut N, said roller-gage resting at an angle within said groove, in combination with the guide II, for the purposes specified.

Ina seaming-machine constructed substantially as set forth, the table of said machine, having a cross-groove M therein, and the longitudinal guide II, connected to one top side face of said table, in combination with a yielding rotatable gage J, the lower peripheral edge of said gage resting in said groove below a plane with the top surface of the table, for the purposes specified.

CHARLES llOFF. \Vitncsses:

HENRY M. CALDWELL, O. M. IIILL. 

